A lot has happened this week. A seismic shock has been sent through the world as a brash, bigoted, businessman has blustered and blundered his way to the top of the totem pole. We have a new US President-Elect: Donald Trump.

As many of us who did not support him wring our hands and worry about our uncertain future I want to take a tiny piece of time to contemplate those who have given their lives, limbs or sanity on our behalf over the years to allow us the freedom to make our choices.

In the UK we always stopped work at 11:00 am on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month for two minutes of silent remembrance of the Armistice Day, as it was also known. Places of work, school, shopping areas and even the TV and radio would be silenced for 120 seconds of stillness and a show of unity.

This is not something that is observed in my adopted homeland, but I was moved to hear reference to the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of eleventh month at our local Veteran’s Day Parade in town last Sunday.

Today, I personally observed this moment of introspection and reflection in my office. I had a business meeting at 11:00 and told them I would be at least two minutes late attending in order to observe Remembrance Day.